The next morning, Lucy sat in silence on her way to school. Her driver sensed the dampened atmosphere and let Lucy sulk in peace. All she could hear in her head were echos of last nights screaming match. The thought of returning home after school filled her with dread.

After an eternity, the wheels finally slowed to a stop at the front of the school.

"Thanks for the ride. And I'm staying after school today, I have a club meeting after school. I'll text you when to come," Lucy said weakly.

Now I have to actually find a club.

Truth be told, she was procrastinating going home, before school even started. Lucy walked through the hallway in a daze, lost in her thoughts. On instinct, she arrived at their usual morning hang out spot.

"Hey Lucy! Sorry about last night!" Erza called out.

"Hey yeah, me too," Gray said sheepishly, "we just both got caught up with our clubs seems like."

"Oh it's cool, Zeref tools is back to their place," Lucy said. Then she frowned. With all the chaos that ensued yesterday, she hadn't yet processed her initial bother. "Hey did you guys know that he like, you know… smokes weed? And also Mavis too?" She asked nervously looking around. It felt taboo to say aloud.

"Yeah? Who hasn't?" Gray said causally.

"UH ME?" Lucy cried before putting her hand over her mouth.

"Uh me neither," Erza said annoyed.

"Hehe but she sure can't hold her liquor," Mira chimed in. Erza's faced matched her hair.

"Yeah I am really going to start pulling back," Erza said embarrassed, "I can't go through that again… and I can't even remember most of it…"

"And I'm not going to tell you," Mira sang.

"What? You guys do that stuff too?" Lucy said in disbelief. Nobody had ever done anything like this at her old school. If your skirt was even an inch too short, it was immediately met with a reprimandment on your file.

"I mean, you go to a public school now," Gray said, "Standards and rules are just kinda overlooked as long as you're not obnoxious about it."

"How we didn't do anything like that last year?" Lucy said confused now. Were they meeting up and purposefully excluding her? She felt a pit in her stomach.

"I mean, I guess we kinda just do really do that stuff together. None of us really have a supplier - so we just do it when available. Like I only ever get lit with my team because Ultear has a fake ID," Gray explained.

"Yeah, the only time I ever drink is when student council throws a party after the anual debate competition," Erza said, "Or Mira invites me somewhere."

"Yeah, the only one of us who could have an easy supply is Natsu but he's not really into all that stuff. I guess also since you hang out with him the most, makes sense we never did that stuff together," Gray said.

"Yeah, we don't really have the means," Erza added.

"Can't relate!" Mira giggled, "Cana, Laxus, and I all have fake IDs. We even went out clubbing once. But Erza is too goody to have one."

"GRAY YOU BASTARD!"

Natsu ran down the hall screaming. He screeched to a halt in front of Gray, getting in his face, "WHAT THE HELL GRAY! WE WAITED FOR YOU FOR LIKE 45 MINUTES LAST NIGHT!"

Gray stood up, meeting Natsu at eye level. "Well dickface, I was about to apologize, but now, I'm gonna beat your ass," Gray retorted.

"Oh you wanna go? Bring it dumbass!"

"Oh you're on!"

"Need I remind you, student code section 6 page 4 - fighting on school grounds is forbidden and grounds for suspension," Erza said menacingly. She shot a hard look over at them.

"Yes Ma'am!" They both said backing down.

Natsu sat down and started to frantically scribble out some homework, while Gray started texting on his phone.

Erza looks over at Lucy, "Hey, the student council is throwing a party next Friday. Do you want to come?"

Lucy froze. On one hand, she was rather curious about the experience. It was so different from her usual schooling. It felt like a rite of passage. On the other hand, she knew there was no way her father wouldn't find out and ruin anything. And the idea still freaked her out.

"No thanks, but thank you for the offer," she said. The bell went off and they began to disperse to class. As Lucy walked away - Natsu caught up to her.

"Hey sorry about last night, I understand if he made you uncomfortable," Natsu said.

"Oh no, Zeref didn't make me uncomfortable-"

"What? No not Zeref! My dad! After he came in, you ran out," Natsu said taken back.

"Oh, it's just that… that car he described… that was my dad…" Lucy stammered.

"Oh."

"I got to get to class," Lucy said.

"Hey what's your fourth period, I'll walk with you to lunch. You can tell me what happened," Natsu said.

"Alright I'll text it to you."

Gray felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He didn't even have to look at his phone screen to know that the new girl Juvia Lockser sent him another text. She had been texting him quite a lot since their meeting 12 hours previously. Like a lot.

He slid into his desk while reaching in his back pocket to read what she wanted now.

Juvia (swim): Hey what are you doing during lunch period today?

Gray liked his swim team life and normal life separate. Besides he'd feel like a dick because of Lyon.

Gray: I have to attend a study group. But you should totally ask Lyon he mentioned he was free.

Juvia (swim): oh okay

Gray held his breath for a few seconds. When another text didn't go through he sighed with relief.

"Hmm yeah, probably don't text him again til at least after lunch. You don't want to seem too clingy," Meredy said looking at Juvia's phone.

"I probably already do," Juvia said anxiously.

"Okay maybe like wait until he approaches you first at practice today. Show him that he needs to come to you," Meredy replied.

"Okay, I'll try."

Erza was taking out her laptop to prepare for class, when she noticed a text message pop up.

Devil Himself: guess who asked Mavis to host this year's student council party?

Seriously?!

Erza was class president, meaning she represented the entire Junior class. She won re-election all three years. Seniors don't have a class president, instead they were the student council president. This means Mavis is now the student council president, and as such, she has the honors of choosing who hosts this first party.

Of course Jellal would ask. Erza can't win. Jellal was the head of the fundraising committee, which of course made all the girls fawn over him even more, as he helps raise money for homecoming and prom. During dance season, countless girls flaunt themselves over him. No doubt even more so this year, because as a junior, he can ask someone.

So infuriating

Erza: as if I'd walk through the gates of hell

"So Mavis? Are you down?"

"Huh? Sorry?" Mavis snapped out of her daze and looked over at her green eyed friend. He was sitting on his desk with his feet resting on the chair. Their friends were scattered around them looking at her waiting for a response. She looked back at him. His eyes always pierced through her mind sending her back into reality. He frowned.

"Mavis are you even listening? We're going to the lake after school. You coming?" Yuri asked impatiently.

"Oh well-"

"Don't tell me you have plans! We're your friends too, ya know," Precht said cutting her off.

"Besides summer is going to end soon! Let's go while we can," Jenny said.

Mavis and her friends usually met up in their first class, since they were all in the only honors historical literature class. Usually they all arrived pretty early, to start planning their day, but Mavis rolled in barely on time.

"Hey and while I have your attention, where were you this morning? hour car was still here when I left, and when I got to school - it was still in the same spot. Funny thing was, I couldn't find you," Warrod questioned.

"I got a ride home yesterday…"

"Mavis, you're coming end of story," Yuri said, "You literally saw him last night and today, you won't die from half a day apart."

Just as the warning bell rang, Mavis got a text.

Jellal: so mavis, will you let me do the honors and let me host the student council welcome back party?

Oh right. She was the student council president now. Well at least this was one decision off her plate.

Mavis: omg yes! So exciting! Let me know the details ASAP so I can text it out to everyone! I'll also send out a sign up sheet for handles.

Wow I sound fake.

Lucy walked into her first period class and was relieved to see a familiar face.

"Levy!"

"Lulu!"

Lucy took the seat in front of her. "I'm so glad we have class together again!"

"Me too Lucy! Good to know at least one other person will have a brain!" levy said giggling

"Hey I was wondering, do you think I can sign up to be one of those tutors? I know I qualify for Literature!" Lucy asked hopefully.

"Really! That would be awesome! Just meet at the a library after school today, and I can get you started!" Levy said excitedly.

The bell rang and class began.

"Alright well, that's attendance taken care over. Go ahead and start reading chapter 1. Or at least pretend to. I'll be at my desk," the teacher said as she sat down and opened her book.

Zeref didn't even bother to put away his phone, much less even take out the book. Hell, he didn't even know if he owned it. A text slid in.

Mard Gear: you going to all ur classes today ?

Zeref: fuck no

Mard Gear: meet at spot during sixth

Zeref: bet

He then sent another text:

Zeref: be there 30

Wendy: I'm sorry

Zeref: don't be

Damn bastard Igneel won't wake up to take Wendy to school.

Whatever, it's not like Zeref was missing something important. Hopefully I can force myself to come back before third period…

Who was he kidding. He wouldn't.